~ POP IS DEAD! ~

Earlier this month, the illustrious NME Music Magazine critic Paul Morley denounced his past (1976-86) in the world of pop and rock music. In a recent article (September 20) in The Observer, the critic stated (much like Adorno) that "Pop belongs to the last century. Classical music is more relevant to the future." His reasoning for this includes the claim that pop and rock music in general has "become the status quo" and is manufactured. In fact Morley's article and opinions seem so similar to Adorno's in their views on popular music and classical music, it's scary!

"The alluring, addictive sound of pop does still evolve, but what is sung about remains more or less the same; the poses, controversies and costumes repetitive and derivative. It is machines that are now the new pop stars, the performers and singers like travelling sales workers whose ultimate job is to market phones, tablets, consoles, films, brands and safely maintain the illusion that the world is just as it was when there was vinyl and the constant, frantic turnover of talent, genre and style." -Paul Morley 

Perhaps the most interesting thing about all of this, (aside from the astounding similarities and accurate prediction of pop music by Adorno) is that Morley was practically as close to the music of his time as humanly possible. He was immersed in the business and surrounded by the stars of his time. So if he makes decides to makestatement like this, no matter how much I would like to disagree, it's probably true because he sees the inside.

Paul Morley and the late Jerry Garcia in 1981